Wilton Bullet Vise Information

[autopts]

Heh, I don't own one of those...yet. I tried to find out some history on Prentiss but that's like a black hole.

Catalyst is your Prentiss guru. He know Prentiss inside and out. He can even tell you where the Men's Rooms were located in the Prentiss factories back then.

 

[kc-steve]

Although I wasn't looking for another Wilton vise, couldn't pass this one up when I found it last Sunday at an estate sale for $20. Looks to be original paint. Based on the jaw configuration and the "patent pending", I'd say it's an early model. The reading I've done has conflicting information on dating these. The question is: what is the approximate build date on this vise?

My best guess is 1941-42 since the Patent was applied for in August 1941 and approved in March of 1942. The design on the side is also different from later models.

http://junkyardtools.com/tool_history/wilton

Steve

 

[stormking]

Thanks for the info Steve. That is what I thought but had not seen a date stamp like the (2-945) on this one. This vise has almost no wear makes you wonder why they didn't use it more in the last 70 years.

 

[Ryanps8]

What do you guys think is the best kind of paint and clear coat to use when I get to that point.

 

[Swan]

Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green and Krylon clear coat. See mine above.

 

[BHH]

Thanks for the info Steve. That is what I thought but had not seen a date stamp like the (2-945) on this one. This vise has almost no wear makes you wonder why they didn't use it more in the last 70 years.

Include me in another owner of one of the "Pat Pend 2-945" versions.

 

[C.BRAXMAIER]

Owner: PFB
Jaw Size: 4-1/2" x 1"
Model: 9450 w/ swivel base
Number(s): 9450 (UPC 101033)
Weight: 60 pounds with swivel base
Date Stamp: 670 (June 1970)
Left Body Text: 101033 / 9450 / WILTON (curved) / SCHILLER PARK ILL / USA
Right Body Text: WILTON (curved) / SCHILLER PARK ILL / USA
Source: eBay, $96 shipped.

Before freshening:

After:

No dowels on the jaws:

Date:

Compared to a newer 400N:

Where did you get the paint that is sweet...

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Anyone want to take a guess on this one? It's about an hour away from me, waiting on a response.

 

[darkk]

Anyone want to take a guess on this one? It's about an hour away from me, waiting on a response.

You're typing this on your phone enroute right?

 

[stormking]

Hey BHH what a coincidence. That is a nice #3 and in another strange turn I found two early #3 bullets last weekend. Neither of them has a date code one with a swivel and one without. Both came from the original owners, one was a WWII fighter pilot. He said that he bought the vise new without the swivel so I guess they came both ways. stormking

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

 

[BHH]

Hey BHH what a coincidence. That is a nice #3 and in another strange turn I found two early #3 bullets last weekend. Neither of them has a date code one with a swivel and one without. Both came from the original owners, one was a WWII fighter pilot. He said that he bought the vise new without the swivel so I guess they came both ways. stormking

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

If you have any interest in selling just the swivel PM me.

 

[spazzer]

Owner: spazzer
Jaw Size: 4 1/2 inch
Model: 450N
Numbers: 101162 on the vise and 101163 on the movable jaw
Date Stamp: 2-78 (A month after I was born)
Left Body Text: N in a square below the vise jaw, Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176 Made in USA, Wilton 450 decal in inset on movable jaw
Right Body Text: Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176 Made in USA
Source: Father gave it to me in exchange for helping him put a clutch in his truck

 

[btrnuthatch]

I'm a vise newbie with my first learning attempt at reconditioning a Wilton bullet. It's a 1946 with 5" jaws. I used Rustoleum Etch Primer and topped with Hammered Verde Green (following a previous post's suggestion).

Disassembled, sand-blasted, cleaned, buffed the jaws/anvil/handle, masked, primed, painted, lubed and reassembled. Here it is including a prime stage and "before" which shows it didn't start as a diaster.

 

[autopts]

David..Here's one.
Owner..Yet to be determined..
Jaws..5"W X 1"H Wilton # Jaws..2908080 (Must trim to 5"
Model..101042/101043 it seceeded the 9500 Spindle..2900040 (later spindle same)
Weight..76 Lbs. Collar...2904070 (same as 500S)
Date stamped..6-71
Text..WILTON Schiller Pk. Ill. USA, both sides.
Source..A picker..
Note....In about 3 years later, this model was going to have major changes. The length, height, weight, anvil size, jaw size and a 2 piece Dynamic jaw with a pressed in steel channel bar was to take place and basicaly make that 500S what it is today. These olders ones still rivel today's models in many ways.

 

[autopts]

David, here's another one.
Owner..Yet to be determined.
Jaws.. 4.50"W X .750H
Model..9450 All spindles are interchangable from 1953 to prersent
Weight..62 lbs..
Date..6-53
Text.. WILTON
CHICAGO IL. USA Both sides
Source..A picker
Note..Feel free to ask me for more photos of this vise or any you have seen.

 

[DavidB]

After a long hiatus I've updated the timeline to include the newest vises listed since. I've updated the link in the first post of the thread. I'm also considering changing the format on the timeline to show more pictures but am still up in the air. Thanks for the info!

 

[DavidB]

What do you think of this version of the timeline? Its in a slideshow presentation style with more pictures. Currently its only partially done, but if folks like it I'll add more.
Find it here https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1SLQ-bU1rvBZVBDc1dSLXlqdHc

David

 

[DaWoodster]

Hey David,

I see you already added my new (to me) 9450 to your timeline, thought I would offer up some more pics and fill in some missing info

Owner:
Jaw Size: 4-1/2"
Model: 9450 Swivel
Number(s): 9450 screw-on tag on right side static jaw, 8450 stamp left side dynamic jaw, 135 pinned tag on bottom of swivel base
Weight TBD
Date Stamp: 3 - 53
Left Body Text: WILTON / CHICAGO / USA
Right Body Text: WE / WILTON / USA / CHICAGO
Source: Yard Sale


2012-08-27 11.17.08 by dawoodster2, on Flickr


2012-08-27 11.16.57 by dawoodster2, on Flickr


2012-08-27 11.14.31 by dawoodster2, on Flickr


2012-08-28 13.40.35 by dawoodster2, on Flickr


2012-08-19 08.26.41 by dawoodster2, on Flickr

 

[DavidB]

Hey David,

I see you already added my new (to me) 9450 to your timeline, thought I would offer up some more pics and fill in some missing info....

Yes, I saw it in the vise thread and thought it was so nice I had to add it. Thanks for the additional information!

 

[joebud]

Here are a couple pics of the Wilton 101028 Vise. I purchase it at an estate sale for $20 and it was pretty rough and worn, but all complete. I degreased it, had it sandblasted, and threw on one coat of primer and two copcoats of Rustoleum hammered tone light blue. I do not see a date code on the bottom of the key, so does anyone know how old this would be?

 

[Arachnotron]

Owner: Arachnotron
Jaw Size: 3 1/2 inch
Model: 350S
Numbers: 101160 static 101161 dynamic right side. S2 dynamic left side
Weight: 39 pounds
Date Stamp: 1-76
Left Body Text: Made in USA Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176
Right Body Text: Made in USA Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176
Source: craigslist $50 in 2010

Under the black paint there was some of the original blue paint.

 

[rut3556]

That's it..... I must have a Wilton "bullet" vise.... I simply must!!

 

[autopts]

Where did you get the paint that is sweet...

Hey Chris,
What is the year of that 400N next to your 9450? And, did it come with the inset where the tin lable is missing or is it smooth there ?

 

[autopts]

The present day 400, & 450 machinist series came out in the early middle 70's. It would be nice to establish a timeline to then they had only the # on the right side, then they went to their crappy decal and then they went to their tin badge. And today they have both the model # and the tin badge. I think from 1976 they didn't have a decal and decals started in about 1978 maybe? Anybody?

 

[autopts]

Owner: Arachnotron
Jaw Size: 3 1/2 inch
Model: 350S
Numbers: 101160 static 101161 dynamic right side. S2 dynamic left side
Weight: 39 pounds
Date Stamp: 1-76
Left Body Text: Made in USA Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176
Right Body Text: Made in USA Wilton Schiller Park ILL 60176
Source: craigslist $50 in 2010

Under the black paint there was some of the original blue paint.

Arch? did your 1976 have that washed out decal on the side?

 

[Arachnotron]

Arch? did your 1976 have that washed out decal on the side?

I didn't see any signs of a decal on it.

 

[rut3556]

Is there a published numbering scheme for Wilton vises, in particular the bullets? Like, what would be the difference between a 9400 and a 9450 for instance?

Thanks..........

 

[autopts]

Is there a published numbering scheme for Wilton vises, in particular the bullets? Like, what would be the difference between a 9400 and a 9450 for instance?

Thanks..........

Wilton's numbering
9300, 101020, 300S 3"
9400, 101028, 400S 4"
9450, 101033, 450S 4 1/2"
9500, 101043, 500S 5"
All machinist vises made from 1975 to 2012 have all the same specs relative to their jaw width. One minor difference in back but thats it

 

[rut3556]

Thank you much!

 

[Charles Waugh]

Well, I've got 4 Wilton vises:

• 2" baby on a ball-mount base (it has the odd little anvil)
  my post about it is here
• 3" bullet that I use every day - it's mounted on a base that has a horizontal 2" steel shaft so I can spin it around that axis and hold things at an angle.
• 4-1/2" C1 with pipe jaws (quite new)
• 5" bullet with a 6-66 date stamp)

And, I just got a Charles Parker 436 - all 187 pounds of it.
You can see the Parker in the one pic, and the C1 next to it.

So, I'm selling my 5" Wilton on Craigslist.
I'm trying for $450 - we'll see if anyone bites.
Any takers?

 

[dback]

Want to help me out with mine

6" jaws, opens over a foot
only numbers are 101066 and UX

Sorry to bring up such an old thread. I have this same vise...only #101066 but date is stamped 10-80 so can it be a C-3 or some other model? Also looking for a couple of parts for it. It's not on a swivel base. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dback]

Can anyone tell me if a Wilton C-3 was ever sold original without a swivel base? What would have been the difference in the base machining itself between ones sold with a swivel base and ones sold without?

 

[Hagg]

My vise. Not sure what model, haven't done any research yet. Once I finish my shop I'll look it up.

<a href="http://s1225.beta.photobucket.com/user/draggahj/media/Shop/20130303_163804.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee395/draggahj/Shop/20130303_163804.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130303_163804.jpg"/></a>

 

[autopts]

David,
Here's one not on your vise database. Its painted a Detriot Diesel Alpine Green and its a little greener then in the photo. The owner is a private collector.
Model Parker 384 1/2" swivel base, swivel jaw.
weight 65 lbs
height 9.75"
opens 6.00"
throat 3 7/8"
jaws 4 1/2" wide
wrench No. 2
base 974 marking
Markings L.S. THE
CHAS PARKER CO.
MERIDEN CT.
U.S.A.
Markings R.S. 384 1/2

Come on guys, check his site, add your vise if he hasn't got it listed, not just Parkers. Reeds, Wiltons Columbian s etc. http://dayid.org/mediawiki/index.php/Charles_Parker_Vise

Have all the vise info to help him

 

[romanjcg]

Hey Hagg, I think I have the same vise. I was looking for info on it and was having a hard time. So i started looking for a photo of it all over but couldnt find one that was an exact match till I saw yours. Let me know what you find out. Oh bye the way, mine has the numbers 101166 and 101167 on the other side like yours.

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There is a place where it looks like a name plate used to be that was knocked off and is missing

 

[RobRace10]

This was behind my desk for many years. Used it to show how the Wilton Vises were made.

 

[OhCookie]

Hey BHH what a coincidence. That is a nice #3 and in another strange turn I found two early #3 bullets last weekend. Neither of them has a date code one with a swivel and one without. Both came from the original owners, one was a WWII fighter pilot. He said that he bought the vise new without the swivel so I guess they came both ways. stormking

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

By stormking3 at 2012-07-12

I know this post is from last year, but I was wondering if you know what year those vises are from. I just picked one up and it does not have a date code or 6-digit model number, just says "Wilton No. 3."

 

[SGT G]

I purchased a Wilton #4 and took it apart to restore it. I found that the main nut inside the vise is stamped 740. Does that mean the date for the vise is July 1940?
Thanks,
Martin

 

[drivesitfar]

the date of the Wilton vises are on the slide that fits in the slot below the screw on the bottom of the dynamic jaw (the one that screws out). some have actual date of birth and others say exp and date which means birth date is 5 years prior. the exp date is the end of the 5 year warranty period. is that where you found the date when you say main nut?

 

[BFBOB]

I'm trying to make a timeline of Wilton's vises and I'm primarily focusing on the bullet style vises. Some of the things I'm trying
I'm also trying to keep a log of the following data on the vises:

Owner:
Jaw Size:
Model:
Number(s):
Weight
Date Stamp:
Left Body Text:
Right Body Text:
Source:



The pdf for the timeline can be found here: Updated 8-28-12
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1SLQ-bU1rvBZWdkYXJVTjhieEE

Perhaps a data point to add: paint brand and color if known and it's a repaint. That would be very useful to restorers.